Clutch for electric-arc lamps.



No. 63|,339. Patentad Aug. 22, 1899.

H. C. SPINNEY.

CLUTCH FOB ELECTRIC ARC LAMPS.

(Application filed Apr. 13, 1899.)

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WW" MW UNITED STATES PATENT OEEIcE.

HENRY C. SPINNEY, OF LYNN, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO THE GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY, OF NEIV YORK.

CLUTCH FOR ELECTRIC-ARC LAMPS.

SPECIFICATION forming part Of Letters Patent No. 631,339, dated August 22, 1899.

Application filed April 13, 1899- Serial No. 712,844. (No model.)

To all whom it Hwy concern.-

Be it known that I, HENRY G. SPINNEY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Lynn, county of Essex, State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Clutches for Arc-Lamps, (Case No. 953,) of which the following is a specification. My invention relates to clutches for arelamps, and is principally directed toward the "1o means employed for adjusting the position of the clutch with respect to the other working parts of the lamp.

In certain types of arc-lamps, notably those having a pivoted armature-lever with a clutch r 5 suspended therefrom, it is necessary to have a certain amount of adjustment between the actuating mechanism and the clutch. Itis highly essential to the proper operation of the lamp that the mechanism employed for adjusting the clutch be such that it is capable of an extended movement or a very small movement, as the case maybe. It is also very essential that the parts be capable of positive, accurate, and delicate adjustment. I accomplish all of 2 5 these desired results by myimproved clutch.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, which show an embodiment of my invention, Figure l is a side elevation of a clutch and carbon rod. Fig. 2 is an end elevation of the same. Fig. 3 is a sectional View taken on the line 3 3 of Fig. 1. Fig. 1 is a plan view of the sheet-metal blank from which the frame of the clutch is made, and Fig. 6 is the blank from which the forward clutch'shoe is made.

electrode or a metal tube for carrying the electrode. the rod, is guided by one or more suitable bushings B, located on the lamp-frame.

The clutch for feeding the electrode consists of a U-shaped frame made from the blank C and is provided with two o'lfset portions (1' at the point where the sides pass around the rod. Pivotally mounted in the frame are two shoes D and E, the former made of a solid metal block and the latter made from a sheetmetal punching of the form shown in Fig. 6. The sides of the frame are held together by the pins F, which also act as pivots for the shoes D and E. I11 the outer ends of the clutch-frame are two holes G, and mounted The rod or tube A may either be the carbon This tube, commonly known as therein and capable of a certain freedom of movement are two projections H, which are formed integrally with the downwardly-ex tending portion of the frame-piece H.

The frame-piece H is provided with the projections H and the projections H which when the adjusting-box is formed by bending the frame-piece, as shown in Fig. 1, are riveted over the reduced portion h of the frame-piece and serve to complete the box. I have termed this an adjusting box or cage, since it serves to retain the adjusting-nut in place. In addition to the projections the piece H is provided with two holes I, which are so positioned that when the box is formed they will be in line with each other and will permit the rod I to pass freely. A small holej is also provided in the frame-piece to receive a setscrew J, which screwis employed to lock the adjusting-nut K against movement. It will be seen that the adjusting-box is made from .a single piece of metal and that by making the reduced portion h of the same width as that of the space between the projections H there is practically no stock wasted and the box is very simple.

The rod I is flattened on its upper end and on the lower end is screw-threaded for the purpose of adjustment. The flattened end of the rod I is connected in the present instance to the armature or other actuator L, although it could be connected to a dilferent form of actuator, if desired. The magnet M is located in such a position that it will attract the armature and through the rod I move the clutch up and down to permit the carbon to feed. The rear shoe being somewhat larger than the front shoe is employed to trip the clutch and permit the carbon to feed. This is done when the armature is attracted by the magnet until the shoe strikes the bushing B.

Mounted on the screw-threaded portion of the rod and located within the adj usting-box is a nut K. This nut is provided with a number of faces-in the present instance sixwith which the end of the screw J may engage. By this arrangement a very small or so as to bring the adjacent face of the nut under the screw J, is sufficiently tine for all practical purposes, even though the thread on the rod 1' be comparatively coarse.

By leavset-screw J has released it. After the required adjustment is made the screw J is seated firmly in place, and there is no opportunity for the parts to work loose, due to jarring, (be.

The top and bottom of the adjusting-nut are preferably surrounded by the ends of the box in such a manner that there is little or no lost motion between the parts.

It will readily be seen that by ntyimprovements a very accurate and delicate adjustment of the parts can be obtained.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is-

l. The combination of a movable rod or tube, a clutch for controlling certain movements of the rod or tube, an actuator for the clutch, and an adj usting device forthe clutch, consisting of an open-sided box in which a nut is located.

2. In a gravityd'eed mechanism, the combination of a cylindrical rod, a clutch secured to an actuator and arranged to normally sustain the weight of the rod, an adjusting device between the actuator and the clutch,

comprising an open-sided box formed of a single piece of metal, the box being held together by lugs formed integral therewith.

3. As an article of manufacture, an adj usting device comprising a box-like structure formed of a single piece of metal and held together by a lug which is riveted over the main body of the box, and an extension which is provided with means for securing it to a clutch.

at. As an article of manufacture,a U -shaped clutch-frame having shoes mounted therein, and an adjusting device consisting of a boxlike structure provided with an extension having outwardly-extending projections formed thereon, which enter holes formed in the clutcl1fran1e.

5. In an arc-lamp, the combination of a carbon tube, or rod, a gravity-controlled clutch, an open-sided box, an adjusting-nut closely surrounded by the box, a screw-threaded rod for transmitting motion from an actuator to the clutch, and a set-screw mounted in the box for preventing the adjusting-nut from turning.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand this th day of April, 1899.

HENRY o. sPINNEY.

lVitnesses:

DUGALD MCKILLOP, JOHN MCMANUS. 

